Ok, so I'm a little later than I expected. You're used to that by now, right.

Alrighty, let's just get straight to the reviews!

Previous Reviews:

Infinite Crisis #6 (of 7): 10/10
The OMAC Project Infinite Crisis Special: 8/10
Detective Comics #818: 9/10
Teen Titans #34: 8/10
Superman #651: 8/10
Crisis Aftermath: The Battle for Blüdhaven #1 (of 6): 7/10
Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #24: 7/10
Nightwing #119: 5/10

***

Justice #5
"Chapter Five"
Writers: Jim Krueger and Alex Ross
Pencillers: Doug Braithwaite and Alex Ross

Plot: While the Justice League is reeling from attacks by Lex Luthor's legion, the reserves come to the rescue. Captain Marvel saves Superman from Bizarro, Metallo, and the Parasite, Black Canary and Green Arrow escape from the Scarecrow and Clayface, Wonder Woman battles Cheetah, and the Martian Manhunter escapes Gorilla Grodd's psychic connection. Cap takes Superman to the Batcave, where Superman realizes what's happening. And Luthor's plan continues to progress.

Review: This has been one of the most visually stunning books I've read in a long time. With the help of Braithwaite, Alex Ross's characters look more like their classic versions than they ever did in his oversized Justice League magazines or in Kingdom Come. And the story, to this point, has been intriguing. I'm still trying to figure out what Luthor and his "legion of doom" are up to; they're certainly not just making deserts into forests and helping the helpless. There is some major ulterior motive, and it's somehow connected to a dream the villains shared in the first issue. But how is stopping the heroes solving their problems? It's an interesting place that Krueger and Ross have the reader in, because you're left to wonder if maybe the bad guys really are doing this all out of their humanity and their desire to survive. Perhaps they really are the folks to root for?

Holy Batcomputer, Batman! One of the coolest things about Justice has been the inclusion of "Bruce Wayne's private files" detailing the heroes and villains of the story, from Lex Luthor and Brainiac to Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman. For a DC novice, this is a great addition and a great series to catch on to. Without the trappings of DC continuity, Ross has crafted a story about heroes and villains that plays around with some of the notions we're familiar with from Infinite Crisis and other mega-events, but never lets you forget that our heroes are heroes and our villains are villains.

Reviewer's Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

***

JSA Classified #11
"The Fall & Rise of Vandal Savage Part Two"
Writer: Stuart Moore
Penciller: Paul Gulacy

Plot: With only days left to live, Vandal Savage, the formerly immortal conquerer, has decided to target the first "superhero" he ever encountered in order to exact his final vengeance. But in order to get close to him and truly destroy him, Savage must use the memory of a former teammate to arouse Alan Scott's curiousity.

Review: The "Classified" titles have been an interesting contrast. While the JLA: Classified title sticks to other eras in the history of the Justice League, JSA Classified takes place in the present continuity of the Justice Society, following the stories of their current members-or, in the case of this current arc and a previous three-issue arc written by Jenna Van Meter, their present day enemies. Of course, those who know the history of the JSA know that Vandal Savage has been around for quite a while, and has faced off against the superteam, and many other heroes of the DC Universe, for many, many years. The first two issues of this storyline, written by Firestorm and Wolverine scribe Stuart Moore, have followed Savage as he's learned that his fabled immortality has been lost, and he has less than a week to live. So he's decided to take his final vengeance against the first hero of the modern era he'd tangled with, the Green Lantern Alan Scott. Alan's been busy One Year Later, also appearing in JSA and Greg Rucka's new series Checkmate. And the surprise in Alan Scott's appearance this issue made this an interesting read, and a mystery that I'm hoping we'll uncover before too long either in JSA or Checkmate, since this arc finishes with the next issue, I believe. Overall, a pretty solid issue.

Days Past: Moore uses this issue, as he did in his last issue, to give us a little more information on Vandal Savage's history. In Part One of the story, we learn that Savage killed the inventor of the wheel centuries earlier and took the invention for himself. Those familiar with his past know he's been involved in many historical events, so that came as no surprise. This issue, we learn that Savage was, in fact, the legendary Blackbeard the Pirate of old sailing lore, and that he killed his mutinous first mate and placed him on display in order to evade the authorities that were after him. It's those kinds of things that are just fun, fun inclusions by Moore.

Reviewer's Rating: 7 stars out of 10 stars

***

Manhunter #21
"Psychobabble Part Two: Mind Over Morals"
Writer: Marc Andreyko
Pencillers: Javier Pina and Fernando Blanco

Plot: Kate Spencer has the unpleasant task of defending Doctor Psycho, member of the Society of villains who can bend minds to his will-as he did in Metropolis, causing innocent bystanders to rip apart some mercenary villains who didn't listen to him. Meanwhile, Mark Shaw is kidnapped and another prostitute in murdered in L.A. Kate also confronts Doctor Mid-Nite of the JSA regarding her parentage after grilling him on the witness stand.

Review: This title continues to surprise me. I originally picked up this title because it tied in to The OMAC Project several months ago, but I've stayed with it because the premise is quite interesting. Kate is an average woman living in L.A. and deals with real-world difficulties. As an assistant District Attorney, she's tired of watching murderers and rapists, especially superhuman ones, get off on technicalities. So she decides to craft together a vigilante personality to take on the bad guys on the West Coast. She's part Spider-Man, part Punisher as she cuts a swath through the bad guys, and has no qualms with killing the really evil folks. But the most intriguing character aspects revolve around her family and associates, who bring a lot of interesting subplots to her life. Her associate in the DA's office is gay and in a relationship with Alan Scott's son and former superhero Obsidian, Todd Rice. She's divorced, and her young son knows about her superhero life but keeps it quiet. Her gadgets guy is a former supervillain-flunkie who's sleeping with a DEO agent Kate went to school with and now works beside. And to top it all off, her father (who she never knew) was a sociopath who was the illegitimate son of the original Atom, Al Pratt, of the JSA and tried to kill Kate and her family.

Crazy, huh? But it's an interesting, intelligent read and a fun book for those who like courtroom drama and superheroics. Plus, the cameos from around the DCU are fun, and this whole Doctor Psycho defense looks like it could go somewhere interesting.

Reviewer's Rating: 8 stars out of 10 stars

***

Birds of Prey #93
"Progeny Part Two: Gutshot Redemption"
Writer: Gail Simone
Penciller: Paulo Siqueira

Plot: Black Canary is in Asia learning from the teachers who instructed Lady Shiva. Meanwhile, Shiva (helping the Birds of Prey as the "Jade Canary"), Gypsy and Lady Blackhawk retrieve the Crime Doctor's daughter from her prep school, then face an attack from the Society where Lady Blackhawk gets to take some fliers to task. And Huntress can't stop Prometheus from abducting Crime Doctor from his hospital room.

Review: Gail Simone is definitely among the second-tier writers at DC right now. She's a good writer, but some of her stuff just doesn't work. I liked her stuff on Villains United and have enjoyed most of her Birds of Prey work, but I never really felt her work on Teen Titans and Action Comics (of course, it was pretty hard to get past the horrendous artwork of Rob Liefeld and John Byrne, respectively). Thankfully her first two issues of Birds of Prey OYL are just as good as her previous BoP work. And adding in elements from Villains United is always a good thing, especially with the wit and humor that are customary in Simone's writing. Here, we've got the Crime Doctor, a member of the Society who decided to defect to the "good side" and being guarded by Oracle (former Batgirl, Barbara Gordon) and her operatives Huntress, Lady Blackhawk, Jade Canary (the assassin and former Batman instructor, Lady Shiva) and Gypsy (former Justice League Detroit member). The mix of characters here is very interesting, and the interaction and dialogue is spot on. Throw in the great artwork by Siqueira, and you've got a fun comic that's hitting on some good cylinders. I'm still wondering what exactly Black Canary is trying to learn from Shiva, but I'm sure it'll be addressed pretty soon. All in all, solid read.

Reviewer's Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

***

So that's it for two weeks ago! Finally! And sorry about the delay, we'll see if I can't get this a little more normal.

And a little change for last week's comics; I'll still be reviewing the Villains United Infinite Crisis Special, Checkmate #1 and Blue Beetle #2, but I'll be reviewing Supergirl & the Legion of Super-Heroes #17 instead of Batman #652. Figured I can't throw around 8's, 9's and 10's every week! (Even though Supergirl & the LOSH was very good. )

So, I'll have last week's stuff up by tonight or Friday, and this week's comics (week of 6/3/06), including Infinite Crisis #7, up this weekend... hopefully!

~JTS